University of Virginia

 The Lawn

Direct swap from Birgitta, Virginia, U.S.A.

University of Virginia is a public institution that was founded in 1819. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 16,736, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 1,682 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Virginia's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 24. 

Virginian yliopisto  on julkinen tutkimusyliopisto Yhdysvalloissa. Se sijaitsee Charlottesvillessä Virginiassa, ja sen perusti Thomas Jefferson vuonna 1819. Vuonna 2016 U.S. News & World Report -⁠lehden rankingissä Virginian yliopisto sijoitettiin 24. tilalle parhaiden yhdysvaltalaisyliopistojen joukossa. 

Yliopiston tunnetuihin alumneihin kuuluvat senaattori Edward Kennedy ja journalisti Katie Couric. Kirjailija Edgar Allan Poe sai aikoinaan eropassit yliopistosta hävittyään opiskelurahansa uhkapelissä, mutta hänen asuntolahuoneensa on museoitu. (Wikipedia)

Temples

Black Dragon Cave Temple, China

The Black Dragon Cave is in fact an ancient temple complex and it includes single and multi-storied pavilions, temples, shrines, palaces and so on. Surviving a couple of wars, the Black Dragon Cave was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and its current shape is the result of several renovations.

From huchot :)

Kiyomizudera, "Pure Water Temple" is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall's pure waters. The main hall was constructed in the 17th century, and is famous for its location overhanging a cliff. This site is known for its cherry blossoms in the spring, and its red leaves during the fall.

From Fumie, Japan

Trees

Acacia or Mimosa on the beach. 

From Cassie, Germany

Early Light with Morning Mist

Ruby Beach on the Washington coast of the Olympic National Park, UNESCO World Heritage

From Bob , U.S.A.

Taken from the book: Tree stories

From Alexandra Germany

Traditions

Schoolgirls cycling down the street wearing the traditional Ao Dai costume, a graceful image of Vietnam.

The áo dài is a Vietnamese national costume, now most commonly worn by women but can also be worn by men. In its current form, it is a tight-fitting silk tunic worn over trousers.. Áo translates as shirt. Dài means "long". 

Ao Dai in white color always contains different meanings, both traditional custom, Vietnamese women’s beauty and gentleness of Vietnamese schoolgirls.

Selfies from the past

Johann ( Jan )  Kupecký  (1667-1740) Slovakia  

Self portrait 1711

My portrait collection

Vasily Perov  (1834-1882) Russia

Self Portrait 1870

My Perov collection

 Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946) Finland 

Self Portrait 1912

My Helene collection

Joan Miro (1893-1983) Spain
Sef-Potrait 1919
My Miro collection

 Frida Kahlo (1907- 1954)
 Self Portrait with Monkeys 1943
Sent by Joachim, Germany

Autumn treats

 Honey from Russia

 Pancake from Åland

2 dl (4/5 cup) semolina (some islanders use the same amount of pudding rice instead of semolina)
1 dl (2/5 cup) wheat flour
1 litre (4 1/4 cups) whole milk
2 or 3 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 dl (2/5 cup) sugar
2 tsp cardamom
Serves 4 to 6 people

Heat the semolina in the milk for a few minutes to a porridge consistency, and let it cool down. Mix eggs, sugar, salt and cardamom separately, then stir this mixture and the flour into the semolina.
Pour the mixture into a baking dish greased with butter, and scatter a few small knobs of butter over the top of the pancake. Bake 50 to 60 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius (390 degrees Fahrenheit), until the surface of the pancake is golden brown.

Serve hot or cold topped with whipped cream and stewed prunes or jam (popular jams in Åland are made of local apples, strawberries, rhubarb or buckthorn berries).

Walnut cake from Netherlands

School

 Old Dutch School

From  Mariel, Netherlands

Her own photo

Schoolboys in Harju-Jaani Parish School, Estonia 

Photo Heinrich Tidermann,  1896

From Jevgeni, Estonia

Classroom 18th / 19th century, Netherlands
Photo Tom Haartsen
From Ineke, Netherlands